Proud owners of Royal Enfield Bullets, beware! A prolonged gunshot trick on even the quietest streets of Indore may land you in jail for causing panic among pedestrians and drivers alike.

Proud owners of Royal Enfield Bullets, beware! A prolonged gunshot trick on even the quietest streets of Indore may land you in jail for causing panic among pedestrians and drivers alike.

Indore police are on the lookout for such “fired-up offenders” and have arrested over 12 riders under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, recently. Four cases were lodged at MIG police station, while three were reported at Palasia police station.

“Throttling the bike to make that noise has become a fashion among the youth, most of whom purchase the bike only to try making the noise. This scares elderly people and children. Now, residents are lodging complaints on Dial 100, after which offenders are nabbed,” said Rakesh Kumar Singh, additional superintendent of police (East), Indore.

A sexagenarian nearly lost balance on his scooter near Palasia on Sunday evening, taking the throttling sound to be that of gunshots. Passers by convinced him that the sound was emitted from specially modified silencers of two Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles that had just passed him.

Advocate Praveen Yogi seconds the claim, “ A lot of youngsters do this especially late at nights. An elderly person moved a petition before a public utility court in Indore, alleging that the sound may prove fatal to the faint-hearted. Later, the court ordered the Road Transport Office to keep a tab on such offenders and take action against them,” he said.

So how does one pull the trick? “Once you pick up speed of over 60-70 kmph, you need to pull the clutch – turn off the fuel ignition switch, then immediately turn it on while releasing the clutch. This makes the firing sound while your vehicle is moving,” A mechanic with expertise on repairing the bike said seeking anonymity.

“ Even when stationary, one can accelerate the bike on full throttle, pull the clutch, then toggle the fuel ignition switch repeatedly for continuous fire-shot sounds,” he added.

The bikes, which have gradually become affordable for middle-class riders, are on sale at two showrooms in Indore. “We’ve seen a 30 -50% rise in sales this year as compared to 2015,” said a showroom manager. Ketan Chouhan, a Bullet owner, said, “Earlier, affording a Bullet was beyond reach but easy financing options are available now. Moreover, money spent on it is a long-term investment.”